This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

23 Oct 2026 at 16:20

Planning

30 Apr 2026 at 11:06

Summary of the contracting process

Hertfordshire County Council is buying recruitment agency services through a framework for itself and participating district and borough councils across Hertfordshire. The requirement is divided into seven lots: professional and technical staff; industrial workers; adult social care; qualified or registered social care staff; educational psychology services; special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) staff; and job families for district and borough councils. The framework is intended to help managers source agency workers compliantly and efficiently. Hertfordshire County Council will award and administer the framework, while participating councils will manage their own call-off contracts. Suppliers can bid for relevant job types and lots, which have specific roles and requirements. The framework covers agency recruitment and placement, including temporary personnel.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The tender deadline is 12 noon on 20 November 2026, and questions must be submitted by 12 noon on 6 November 2026. Electronic submission is allowed, in English. The framework is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with the option of two further one-year extensions. The stated total estimated value is £46 million excluding VAT (£55.2 million including VAT). Award is based on price and quality: most lots use 40% price and 60% quality; educational psychology uses 25% price and 75% quality; district and borough job families are assessed on price alone. Maximum supplier numbers vary by lot, from two per job type to unlimited for educational psychology. A 1.5% fee on hourly charge rates, excluding expenses, is payable quarterly by suppliers to customers.

The opportunity is suited to recruitment agencies able to source and supply workers across the occupational areas they bid for. Specialist capability is relevant for social care, registered social care, educational psychology and SEND roles; industrial, professional and technical recruitment experience may suit the other lots. The tender uses economic and technical selection criteria, with details set out in the tender instructions, so suppliers should be able to demonstrate both commercial standing and delivery capability. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are considered suitable for all lots. Suppliers should be prepared to work with the framework’s participating councils and manage the requirements of individual call-offs. Awarded suppliers set prices through their pricing schedules, and must account for the quarterly customer fee and the possibility of changing demand and local government reorganisation during the framework term.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

HCC - 10/26 - The Provision of a Recruitment Agency Framework

Notice Description

Hertfordshire County Council is currently out to procurement for the Provision of a Recruitment Agency Framework The purpose of this procurement is to establish a new framework for recruitment agency services, enabling managers to source agency workers in a compliant and efficient manner. The Framework Agreement will be awarded and administered by Hertfordshire County Council on its own behalf. Participating Bodies will be responsible for managing their own call off contracts. For the purposes of this Framework Agreement, the following organisations are deemed Participating Bodies: * Broxbourne Borough Council * Dacorum Borough Council * East Herts Council * Hertsmere Borough Council * North Hertfordshire District Council * St Albans City and District Council * Stevenage Borough Council * Three Rivers District Council * Watford Borough Council * Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council The Council intends for this Framework Agreement to be flexible and meet the needs of the Council and the Participating Bodies The job types required under this Framework Agreement have been split into Lots and each Lot has job roles within. These have been outlined along with their specific requirements in Annexes 1 to 8 to the Specification. To ensure the highest quality provision to each Lot, the Council will limit the number of suppliers awarded to each Lot. The maximum number of awards per Lot is set out in the table below: Supplier Limits per lot Lot number Lot Title Supplier Limit Lot 1 Professional and Technical 2 Agencies per Job Type Lot 2 Industrial Up to a maximum of 10 Agencies Lot 3 Social Care (Adults) 3 Agencies Lot 4 Qualified/ Registered Social Care 3 Agencies Lot 5 Educational Psychology Services Unlimited Lot 6 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 3 Agencies Lot 7 District Council & Borough Council Job Types 2 Agencies per job family. Full details are in the Instructions to Tenderers and Specification, Schedule 1 of the Framework Agreement This procurement is an open process. Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to 'express an interest' and also 'opt in' which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system. To be considered as a Tenderer you must complete and submit a Tender by the deadline of 12 noon on the 20th November 2026 Please allow sufficient time to make your return, as Tender submissions cannot be uploaded and submitted after this return deadline. Please ensure that where possible documents are uploaded as a PDF and that file names are succinct. Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via correspondence on the website, in accordance with the procurement documents, and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above. Tenderers should be aware that due to the nature of the Services provided, any Framework formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Tenderers should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their Tender, where appropriate. Please note that the Framework requirements will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands. The Council reserves the right at any time to cease the procurement process and not award the Framework or to award only part of the opportunity described in this notice. If the Council takes up this right, then they will not be responsible for or pay the expenses or losses, which may be incurred by any organisation or tenderer as a result. To access this opportunity please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home

Lot Information

Professional and Technical

The provision of Professional and Technical Agency workers for Lot 1

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Industrial

The provision of Industrial Agency workers for Lot 2

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Social Care (Adults)

The provision of Social Care (Adults) Agency workers for Lot 3

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Qualified/ Registered Social Care

The provision of Qualified/Registered Social Care Agency workers for Lot 4

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Educational Psychology Services

The provision of Education Psychology Services Agency workers for Lot 5

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Agency workers for Lot 6

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

District Council & Borough Council Job Families

The provision of District Council & Borough Council Job Families Agency workers for Lot 7

Options: The Council reserves the right to purchase Ad Hoc roles as defined in the Pricing Schedule in order to meet its recruitment obligations

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 1 April 2027 and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years terminating on the 31 March 2029 unless extended at the sole discretion of the Council for up to two (2) further years, year on year.

Planning Information

The Council is carrying out PME in relation to this project. The Council will consider the feedback received to help inform the Council’s options, requirements and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the PME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PME will be reimbursed by the Council. To access the PME documentation please visit the Council’s e-tendering system Supply Hertfordshire, run by Intend at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire and follow the on-screen guidance. To participate in this PME, organisations must return their completed Supplier Questionnaire (Appendix A of the PME Document), together with any supporting documents, through the Correspondence area of this project by the return deadline of 12.00 Noon on 29th May 2026, as per the PME documentation and e-tendering system. Supplier Questionnaires received after the deadline may not be reviewed at the Council’s sole discretion. Please make sure that you have submitted your Supplier Questionnaire following the instructions within the PME documentation and e-tendering system. The Council will not be held accountable for any errors made by an organisation in submitting their Supplier Questionnaire. If you are experiencing problems with the Supply Hertfordshire website, In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK support desk which can be contacted via email: support@in-tend.co.uk or Telephone: +44 1144070065 for any website/technical questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30-17:00.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068efd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100709-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79600000 - Recruitment services

79610000 - Placement services of personnel

79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff

79621000 - Supply services of office personnel

79623000 - Supply services of commercial or industrial workers

79624000 - Supply services of nursing personnel

79630000 - Personnel services except placement and supply services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£46,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£46,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
20 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
13 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STEVENAGE
Postcode
SG1 2FQ
Postcode Area
Stevenage
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH23 Hertfordshire CC

Local Authority
Stevenage
Electoral Ward
Symonds Green
Westminster Constituency
Stevenage

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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